The 350,000 students of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) deserve the opportunity to be physically active where they live, learn and play. We know that having early, positive experiences with physical activity sets students on the course for life. Daily physical activity not only helps children stay healthy, it can also enhance important skills like concentration and problem-solving, which can improve academic performance and promote success in the classroom—and in life.

This week, Nickelodeon, one of the world’s leading entertainment companies for kids, turned the “City that Never Sleeps” into a “City of Play,” hosting its biggest celebration of play ever! Leading up to the 10th Annual Worldwide Day of Play (WWDoP), on Saturday, September 21st, Nickelodeon is encouraging kids and their families to get up, get out and go play! For the last decade, during its Worldwide Day of Play celebration, Nickelodeon has gone dark for three hours, taking programming off the air and shutting down its websites for three hours from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. (ET/PT).

This Saturday, September 21, Nickelodeon will host its 10th annual Worldwide Day of Play (WWDoP) kickoff event at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York. Over the past decade, Nickelodeon has been a leader in developing and delivering positive messages and initiatives to encourage youth and families worldwide to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Nickelodeon's well-known talent and characters like Big Time Rush, SpongeBob Squarepants, and Dora the Explorer are visible ambassadors for their pro-social initiatives and will greet young fans and their families at the Prospect Park celebration.

Acting Assistant Secretary of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services for the United States Department of Education Michael Yudin joined a crowd of more than 1,000 students, teachers, and parents in Marana, Ariz., on September 11, in an effort to bring healthy habits back to America’s schools through the First Lady’s Let’s Move! Active Schools (LMAS) initiative.